Our Father in Heaven

'Our father in heaven' is the opening line of the Lord's Prayer.

Can we say that we have 'our father in heaven' here on earth today?

Some people feel that technology has expelled God from the face of earth. Even though mankind has developed all kinds of diversities in technology so far, God remains within the hearts of human beings. The man is the only creature who can think and transcend the universe by thinking. Such thinking is represented in art, science, culture and so on.

The earth receives and maintains all that are obtained from the heaven, from God. He is like a mother, who supports our livelihood by providing us with a place to live and by taking care of our material and spiritual needs. The earth is replete with beauty, which is visible all around us in color, texture, and from.

When we look around the earth today, we find that men are not taking care of the earth. We see so much of environmental destruction. Mountains and forests are being destroyed and the sea, lakes and rivers are polluted by chemicals. This is how we have failed to respect the mother earth.

Human beings constitute an extensive community, where we receive our life from God and our companionship with our neighbors. So we should cater the needs of this whole community and work for its good. We should never exploit or manipulate others.

In short, we have to view each other as a creature of God. Because we don't have love for our neighbors, we will be lead to wars, bitterness, and lack of peace. People seem to forget that they received their lives from God as gifts. Each of us is precious to God and lived by God.

How can we make use of arts in order to experience God? Through various arts, we will sense the presence of God on earth. If we sense His presence, we will live our life faithfully to God, to His people, and the mother earth. In this boisterous age, it is important for us to stop from time to time to take a deep breath and look into ourselves and the world around us. Each of us is given a unique gift from God. We can use the gifts to experience happiness. All of us can be artists in one way or other.

The art of painting may be described as "the mirror of a precious heart".

Paintings speak for themselves. One can even say that all verbal descriptions are superfluous compared with paintings. Each artist has his or her own style of painting and paintings reflect precious character and creativity. Every artist is blessed with a unique stroke style and every painting reflects an original combination of texture and colors. How does painting help us to enhance beautification? Am I ready to portray the face of our heavenly father on every human being, whom I contact with in my daily life?

The art of poetry sometimes seems to be the only true language to express one's identity.

You can write, read, hear or dream poetry. We are touched by poetry because it leaves marks in our hearts. We were created by the image and likeness of God. My life can be poetry. People may be touched by my life if they see the image of God in it. It is not words but encounter that pierces human hearts.

The art of music is not all about listening to music. One needs to allow each sound and each harmony to move freely. Then all the cells of our body will react to sound and vibrations. What is the interior rhythm of God? We can find it in music itself. When God created us, He breathed His spirit in us. We have the interior rhythm of God and the soul of God. If we notice this through art of music, we can see God in all things and all things in God.

The art of dance is a rhythmic physical movement prompted by feelings and emotions. When dancers express joy, prayerfulness, or sadness with gestures and music, audiences also feel or taste the same joy, prayerfulness, or sadness. Dancing appeals mainly to eyes and ears and actually enables people to enjoy, taste and relish performances. Do we draw people close to God through the art of dance? We can also lead people to the evil with awful gestures and indecent costumes.

Artists in all fields are not creators but inaugurators, that is, artists should inaugurate their arts with God and for Him.
We should make use of our gifts of art gratefully so that we may draw ourselves and others close to God and we may be closer to each other. Then our father in heaven will show smile on His face when He sees His children's art.

(J.S.S)